Selective switch construction



June 11, 1963 c. H. WALSH ET AL 3,

SELECTIVE SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 29, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTORS June 11, 1963 c. H. WALSH EIAL 3,093,712

SELECTIVE SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 29, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORS United States Patent 3,093,712 SELECTIVE SWITCH CONSTRUCTIGNCarroll H. Walsh, P.0. Box 982, and Raymond W. Toler, Arkansas Power &Light Co., both of Pine Bluif,

Filed Feb. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 11,672 12 Claims. (Cl. 200-6) Thisinvention relates generally to switchgear apparatus, and moreparticularly to an improved selective switch construction.

A general object of the invention is the provision of a switchconstruction for selectively connecting and disconnecting either of twonormally energized source terminals respectively to and from a singleload terminal and a single ground terminal, the construction beingespecially adapted for use in connection with single phase alternatingcurrent electrical distribution systems embodying undergroundhigh-voltage conductors.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a switchconstruction manually operable to either (1) connect a first sourceterminal to a load terminal or (2) connect a second source terminal tothe load terminal or (3) connect the first source terminal directly tothe second source terminal and by-pass the load terminal or (4) connectthe first source terminal indirectly to the second source terminal or(5) connect the first source terminal to the load terminal and connectthe second source terminal to a ground terminal or (6) connect thesecond source terminal to the load terminal and connect the first sourceterminal to a ground terminal.

A further object is to provide a selective switch construction embodyingremovable, swingable and rotatable bridging conducting switch members,which may be either in the form of solid metal switch blades or tubularfuse holders as may be desired.

Another object is the provision of a novel hinge-end switch constructionfor locking the bridging conducting members in closed position againstrotation and removal and for unlocking the switch members when swung tothe open position to permit optional rotation or removal.

Another object is the provision of a removable lightning arrester, thepresence of which is required only under certain specific conditions aslater described herein.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent in thefollowing detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the presently preferredconstruction, with certain connections shown diagrammatically.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the construction.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view at the hinge contact of thedevice, taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a metal base 10 has mounted thereon,by means of the insulator-mounting cap screws 32, the forwardlyextending line terminal insulators 11 and 12, and the load terminalinsulator 13, the line terminal insulators 11 and 12 being laterallyspaced apart with respect to each other, and the load terminal insulator13 being centrally positioned and substantially equidistant from theline terminal insulators -11 and 12.

A load terminal 14, formed as a cross from flat metal plate, is securedat the top of the load terminal insulator 13 by the cap screw 21, and isprovided with the first and second load contact clips 23; and 24respectively, the clips being secured thereto at the laterally extendedarms of the terminal cross 14 by the contact clip bolts 27. At the upperend of the plate 14 the load terminal connector 56 has connected theretothe load conductor 57, which is diagrammatically shown connecting aline-to-ground transformer 58 to the load terminal, the ground end ofthe 'ice transformer winding being connected to the ground symbolicallyindicated by the numeral 59. The ground 59 is also connected to the baseplate 10 through the ground terminal 54 and the ground conductor 55.

'Otuwardly spaced from the load contact clips 23 and 24, and in the samevertical plane, are located the first and second ground cont-act clips22 and 25 respectively, being fixed in spaced relationship with the base10 by the sleeves 31 and fastened to the base 10' by the bolts 29 andthe cooperating nuts 30.

The first switch member 17 is removably mounted in the slots 42 of thehinge contact 43 and swingably movable about the pivot 41 between openand closed position, an eye 18 (FIG. 2) being provided at the upper endof the switch member for facilitating these manipulations.

FIG. 3 illustrates in detail the hinge end construction for the switchmembers, the member 17 being here shown. The first line terminal 15, inthe form of a flat metal plate, is rigidly fastened to the top of theinsulator =11 by means of the cap screw 44, which extends downwardly inthreaded engagement with the insulator insert 49, and between the latterand the head of the cap screw 44 is positioned the sleeve 45. The lengthof the sleeve 45 is made such that it slightly exceeds the combinedthickness of the bottom of the hinge contact 43 and the spring washer46, so that, when the point 47 of the cam-shaped end of the switchmember 17 is rotated away from the top of the cap screw 44, the hingecontact 43 and the blade 17 may be freely rotated in a horizontal planeabout the sleeve 45. When in the closed position illustrated by FIG. 3,the cam-point 47 has contacted the head of the cap screw 44 and movedslightly overcenter, thus locking the switch member 17 in the closedposition and concurrently forcing the hinge 43 upwardly into engagementwith the spring washer 46 to provide a low-resistance current path fromthe line terminal 15 to the hinge contact 43 and the switch member 17.

The line terminal 15, formed as a flat metal plate, extends downwardlyand outwardly from the insulator 11, and at its lower end is providedwith the first line terminal connector 50, to which is shown connected afirst line conductor 51. At the outwardly extended portion of the plateforming the first line terminal 15 is mounted the line terminal contactclip 26, by means of the contact clip bolt 27.

The hinged end of the second switch member 19 is identical with that ofthe switch member 17, except that, as shown in FIG. 1, the plate formingthe second line terminal 16 extends only downwardly to provide asuitable location for the terminal connector 52, to which is shownconnected the second line conductor 53.

To conveniently and removably mount and connect the lightning arrester20, which may be any one of several types of well known valve arresters,the lower terminal 35 of the arrester 20 is extended downwardly, and thetransversely extending pintles 36 are rigidly attached in any suitablemanner, such as press fit. The pintles 36 are disposed in the laterallyspaced hooks 34, which extend forwardly from the base 10 and areattached thereto by the hook support bolt 33. At the upper end of thearrester 20 the line terminal 37 of the arrester is extended forremovably engaging the load terminal arrester contact clip 28, thelatter being secured by the bolt 39 and cooperating nut 40 to arearwardly bent portion of the downwardly extending leg of the loadcontact terminal 14. An eye 38 is formed as a portion of the arresterline terminal 37 to enable manipulation of the arrester by means of aninsulated switch stick.

A principal application of the invention is the connection of a loadtransformer, as indicated diagrammatically at the numeral 58, to either,or both, source conductors, as indicated by the numerals 51 and 53,

with provision for grounding either of the source conductors to enablesafe repair of one source conductor without interrupting supply to thetransformer from the other source conductor.

Theswitch members 17 and 19 may be either solid conducting switch blademembers, or, if desired, may be fuse housings of any well known type forcontaining a fuse element responsive to a predetermined current. It maybe noted that the switch .member 17 is rotatably and swingably movablefrom its engagement with the first ground contact clip 22, as. shown bythe solid lines in FIG. 1 to the position in engagement with the firstload contact clip 23, as shown by the dashed lines. Similiarly, theswitch member 19 is rotatably and swingably movable to connect itshinged end to (1) the second load contact clip-24, as shown by the solid=lines in FIG. 1, (2) to the second ground contact clip 25 or (3) theline contact clip 26, the latter two positions being indicated by thedashed lines.

FIG. 1 illustratesby the solid lines that selection of switching inwhich the load transformer 58 is supplied from the second line conductor53; the first line conductor 51 is grounded as it should be for theprotection of repairmen working on the conductor; and the lightningarrester is connected to protect the transformer 58 from excessiveline-to-ground voltages which might occur because of the open circuitsurge reflection point created by the disconnection of the first sourceconductor .51 from the second. source conductor 53.

A number of other useful switching selections may be mentioned. First,with the switch member 19 formed as a solid switch blade and engagedwith the line terminal contact clip 26 and'the switch member 17 formedas a fuse construction member and engaged with the first load contactclip 23, the source conductors 51 andv 53 are in series with the loadtapped to the source conductors throughqa fuse element which,.mayoperate to disconnectthe transformenwithout affecting the energizationof the source conductors. Second, should the source conductor 53 faultand require repair, that conductor may be grounded by moving the switchmember 19 to .engagement .with the second ground conductor contact clip25, and the load supplied by moving the switch member '17 to engagementwith the first load contact clip 23. Third, by removing the switchmember 17 bodily and placing the switch member 19 in engagement 'withthe line terminal clip 26 the load transformer may be bypassed whilemaintaining the continuity of the source conductors. Fourth, by engagingthe switch member 17 with the first ground contact clip 22 and theswitch member 19 with the second ground contact clip 25, the

transformer is disconnected and both cables are separately grounded.Fifth, by engaging the .switch member 19 with the line contact clip 26and the switch member 17 with the first ground contact clip 22, thetransformer is disconnected and both cables are jointly grounded. Sixth,should it be desired to have a fuse ;moved from one selective switchinglocation to another as required, one arrester serving any number oflocations in a single loop energized from each end.

.Our selective switch construction is particularly useful in connectionwith underground conductors, for the reasonthat any faulted section ofcable or a defective transformer can be quickly switched by a singletroubleman to restore service by simply operating the switch members,and damaged equipment repaired as may be convenient, following which thesystem may be quickly switched back to the normal condition.

While we have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifications may be made without affecting the scope andtrue spirit thereof.

What we claim is:

1. A selective switch construction comprising, in combination, a metalbase, insulating means thereon supporting in insulated spacedrelationship a first line terminal having mounted thereon a lineterminal contact clip, a second line terminal and a load terminal havinga first load contact clip and a second load contact clip; a first groundcontact clip and a second ground contact clip mounted on said base inspaced relationship with respect to the load contact clips; a firstmovable conducting switch member hinged at the first line terminal and,a second movable conducting member hinged at the second line terminal,said first switch member being selectively movable to engagement withsaid first load contact clip and said first ground contact clip, andsaid second switch member being selectively movable to engagement withsaid second load contact clip, said second ground contact clip and saidline terminal contact clip.

2. A selective switch construction comprising, in combination, a metalbase, insulating means thereon supporting in insulated spacedrelationship a first line terminal having mounted thereon a lineterminal contact clip, a second line terminal, and a load terminal, saidload terminal having mounted thereon a first load contact clip and asecond load contact clip; a first ground contact clip and a secondground cont-act clip mounted on said base in spaced relationship withrespect to the load contact clips; a first conducting switch memberswingably and rotatably hinged at the first line terminal and a secondconducting switch member swingably and rotatably hinged at the secondline terminal, said first switch member being selectively movable toengagement among said first load contact clip and said first groundcontact clip, and said second switch member being selectively movable toengagement among said second contact clip, said second ground contactclip and said line terminal contact clip.

3. A selective switch construction comprising, in combination,insulating means supporting in insulated spaced relationship a firstline terminal, a line terminal contact clip mounted thereon, a secondline terminal, and a load terminal, said load terminal having mountedthereon a first load contact clip and a second load contact clip; firstand second ground contact clips disposed in spaced relationship withrespect to the load contact clips; first and second conducting switchmembers removably, swingably and rotatably hinged at said first andsecond line .terminals respectively, said first switch member beingselectively movable to engagement among said first load contact clip andsaid first ground contact clip, and said second switch member beingselectively movable to engagement among said second contact clip, saidsecond ground contact clip and said line terminal contact clip.

4. A selective switch construction comprising, in combination,insulating means supporting in insulated spaced relationship a firstline terminal, a line terminal contact clip mounted thereon, a secondline terminal, and a load terminal, said load terminal having mountedthereon a first load contact clip and a second load contact clip; firstand second ground contact clips disposed in insulated spacedrelationship with respect to the load contact clips; first and secondconducting switch members removably, swingably and rotatably hinged atsaid first and second line terminals respectively and movable betweenopen and closed positions, said first switch member being selectivelymovable to closed positions by engagement among said first load contactclip and said first ground contact clip, and said second switch memberbeing selectively movable to closed positions by engagement among saidsecond contact clip, said second ground contact clip and said lineterminal contact clip, and means associated with the hinged end of saidswitch members for latching said switch members when in any closedposition.

5. A selective switch construction comprising, in combination,insulating means supporting in insulated spaced relationship a firstline terminal, a line terminal contact clip mounted thereon, a secondline terminal, and a load terminal, said load terminal having mountedthereon a first load contact clip and a second load contact clip; firstand second ground contact clips disposed in insulated spacedrelationship with respect to the load contact clips; first and secondconducting switch members swingably and rotatably hinged at said firstand second line terminals respectively'and movable between open andclosed positions, said first switch member being selectively movable toclosed positions by engagement among said first load contact clip andsaid first ground contact clip, said second switch member beingselectively movable to closed positions by engagement among said secondcontact clip, said second ground contact clip and said line terminalcontact clip, said switch members being disengagingly removable at theirrespective hinged ends only when in open position.

6. A selective switch construction comprising, in combination,insulating means supporting in insulated spaced relationship a firstline terminal, a line terminal contact clip mounted thereon, a secondline terminal, and a load terminal, said load terminal having mountedthereon a first load contact clip and a second load contact clip; firstand second ground contact clips disposed in insulated spacedrelationship with respect to the load contact clips; first and secondconducting switch members swingably and rotatably hinged at said firstand second line termi- 118.415 respectively and movable between open andclosed positions, said first switch member being optionally movable toone closed position in engagement with said first load contact clip andalternately to another closed position in engagement with said firstground contact clip and said second switch member being optionallymovable to one closed position in engagement with said second contactclip and alternately to another closed position in engagement with saidsecond ground contact clip and alternately to yet another closedposition in engagement with said line terminal contact clip, and meansassociated with the hinged end of said switch members for latching saidswitch members when in any closed position, each of said switch membersbeing bodily removable when in open position and interchangeable onewith the other.

7. A selective switch construction comprising, in combination,insulating means supporting in insulated spaced relationship a firstline terminal, a line terminal contact clip mounted thereon, a secondline terminal, and a load terminal, said load tenminal having mountedthereon a first load contact clip and a second load contact clip; firstand second ground contact clip-s disposed in insulated spacedrelationship with respect to the load contact clips; first and secondconducting switch members swingably and rotatably hinged at said firstand second line terminals respectively and movable between open andclosed positions, said first switch member being optionally movable toone closed position in engagement with said first load contact clip andalternately to another closed position in engagement with said firstground contact clip and said second switch member being optionallymovable to one closed position in engagement with said second contactclip and alternately to another closed position in engagement with saidsecond ground contact clip and alternately to yet another closedposition in engagement with said line terminal contact clip, each ofsaid switch member-s being bodily removable when in open position andinterchangeable one with the other.

8. A selective switch construction comprising, in combination,insulating means supporting in insulated spaced relationship a firstline terminal, a line terminal contact clip mounted thereon, a secondline terminal, and a load terminal, said load terminal having mountedthereon a first load contact clip and a second load contact clip; firstand second ground contact clips disposed in insulated spacedrelationship with respect to the load contact clips; first and secondconducting switch members swingably, rotatably and removably hinged atsaid first and second line terminals respectively and movable betweenopen and closed positions, said first switch member being movable from aclosed position in engagement with said first load contact clip toanother closed position in engagement with said first ground contactclip, said second switch member being movable from a closed position inengagement with said second contact clip to another closed position inengagement with said second ground contact clip and to a furtheralternate closed position in engagement with said line terminal contactclip, and means for bodily removing said switch members when in openposition.

9. A selective switch construction comprising, in combination,insulating means supporting in insulated spaced relationship a firstline terminal, a line terminal contact clip mounted thereon, a secondline terminal, and a load terminal, said load terminal having mountedthereon a first load contact clip and a second load contact clip; firstand second ground contact clips disposed in insulated spacedrelationship with respect to the load contact clips; first and secondconducting switch members swingably, rotatably and removably hinged atsaid first and second line terminals respectively and movable betweenopen and closed positions, said first switch member being movable from aclosed position in engagement with said first load contact clip to analternate closed position in engagement with said first ground contactclip, said second switch member being movable from a closed position inengagement with said second contact clip to an alternate closed positionin engagement with said second ground contact clip and to a furtheralternate closed position in engagement with said line terminal contactclip, releasing means enabling the bodily removal of said switch memberswhen in open position, and latching means at the hinged ends of saidswitch members for holding said members in closed position.

10. A selective switch construction comprising, in combination, a metalbase, insulating means supporting in insulated spaced relationship afirst line terminal, a second line terminal, and a load terminal, a lineterminal contact clip mounted on said first line terminal, a first loadcontact clip, a second load contact clip and a lightning arrestercontact clip mounted on said load terminal; first and second groundcontact clips disposed in insulated spaced relationship with respect tothe line and load terminals; first and second conducting switch membersmovable between open and closed positions, a rotatable hinge releasablyconnecting said members to said first and second line terminalsrespectively, said first switch member having a first closed position inengagement with said first load contact clip and an alternate closedposition in engagement with said first ground con tact clip, said secondswitch member having a first closed position in engagement with saidsecond load contact clip, an alternate closed position in engagementwith said second ground contact clip and a further closed position inengagement with said line terminal contact clip, releasing meansenabling the bodily removal of said switch members when in openposition, latching means at the hinged ends of said switch members forholding said members in closed position, and a removably mountedlightning arrester interposed between said lightning arrester contactclip and said metal base.

11. In a selective switch structure, spaced terminals including a lineterminal, a load terminal and a ground terminal, a load terminal contactclip connected to said load terminal, a ground terminal contact clipconnected to said ground terminal, a rotatable hinge mounted on .saidline terminal, fastening means connecting said hinge to said lineterminal, a switch member nemovalbly attached to said hinge andswingably and rotatably movable from an open position to afirst closedposition in engagement with said loadterminal contact clip and to asecond and alternate position in engagement with said ground terminalcontact clip, and means for latching saidmember against removal fromsaid hinge when said member is positioned in any closed position, saidlastnamed means including a cam-shaped end portion of said switch memberin engagement with said fastening means.

12. Ina selective'switch construction,spacedinsulated first and secondline terminals, a first load contact mounted in spaced insulatedrelationship with the first line terminal and a second load contactmounted in spaced insulated relationship with the second .line terminal,a removably mounted first switch member and a removably 8 and rotatablymounted second switch member hinged respectivelyat said first and secondline terminals, said members being swingably movable respectively toconlnect said first line terminal to said first load contact and saidsecond line terminal to said second load contact, and means responsiveto sequential swingable and rotary movement of said second switch memberfor bridging said line terminals.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS473,134 Soden Apr. 19, 1892 488,740 Pattison Dec. 27, 1892 1,379,162Brown May 24, 1921 1,887,027 Lawton Nov. 8, 1932 2,094,779 DonaldsonOct. 5, 1937 2,137,270 Crump Nov. 22, 1938 2,200,509 Lindae May 14, 194020 2,251,115 Crabbs July 29, 1941

12. IN A SELECTIVE SWITCH CONSTRUCTION, SPACED INSULATED FIRST ANDSECOND LINE TERMINALS, A FIRST LOAD CONTACT MOUNTED IN SPACED INSULATEDRELATIONSHIP WITH THE FIRST LINE TERMINAL AND A SECOND LOAD CONTACTMOUNTED IN SPACED INSULATED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SECOND LINE TERMINAL,A REMOVABLY MOUNTED FIRST SWITCH MEMBER AND A REMOVABLY AND ROTATABLYMOUNTED SECOND SWITCH MEMBER HINGED RESPECTIVELY AT SAID FIRST ANDSECOND LINE TERMINALS, SAID MEMBERS BEING SWINGABLY MOVABLE RESPECTIVELYTO CONNECT SAID FIRST LINE TERMINAL TO SAID FIRST LOAD CONTACT AND SAIDSECOND LINE TERMINAL TO SAID SECOND LOAD CONTACT, AND MEANS RESPONSIVETO SEQUENTIAL SWINGABLE AND ROTARY MOVEMENT OF SAID SECOND SWITCH MEMBERFOR BRIDGING SAID LINE TERMINALS.